Disk Shaped Apparatus for Racquet Sports

ABSTRACT

The invented apparatus is useful in any sport that uses a racquet, a bat, a club, a stick, or anything similar. It helps to improve user awareness of his/her wrist angle relative to the handle axis by providing the user with touch feeling and visual indication. Without electronic sensors or any attachment to the user&#39;s body, the invention provides real-time feedback for self-correction.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention:

This invention relates to the field of sports training equipment, specifically sports using racquets, clubs, bats, and any similar equipment. This invention helps to remind players how to properly use their racquets when they are not in a natural form or body position by giving then visual and touching feedback before, while, and after playing. The invention is used for improving player awareness and training efficiency.

Description of the Related Art:

One comparable art is the electronic device attached to tennis racquets or golf clubs to record swing motion for later study and correction. Another art is restraining strips attached to human body to constrain certain body positions or motions.

SUMMARY

This invention provides a way to directly detect certain motion or body position and inform the players in any sport played with racquets, clubs, bats, or other similar equipment. More specifically, the invented apparatus has a disk-like shape and is attached to the end of the racquet handle. The large size of the disk will press on the player's forearm or wrist area if the player holds the racquet with his/her forearm aligned to the handle within certain angle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A disk shaped apparatus (1) is attached to the end (3) of racquet handle (2).

FIG. 1 shows a normal racquet handle (2) with a thicker end (3) to prevent slippage of gripping. The said end (3) can be gripped by a human hand and will not interfere with the forearm or wrist area. The said disk shaped apparatus (1) is an addition to the said end (3) with a much greater diameter, which human hands cannot grip over.

FIG. 2 shows a normal hammer grip position. The key characteristic of the hammer grip is the angle between the forearm (4) and the axis of the handle (2) which is large enough so that there is clearance (5) between the said disk shaped apparatus (1) and the forearm. (4)

FIG. 3 shows a normal fencing grip position. The key characteristic of the fencing grip is the angle between the forearm (4) and the axis of the handle (2) which is close to being aligned. Without the said disk shaped apparatus (1), the clearance (5) between the thickened end (3) and the forearm (4) becomes much smaller than the hammer grip, but there is no interference.

FIG. 4 shows a normal fencing grip position with the said disk shaped apparatus (1) present on the thickened end (3). Because the angle between the forearm (4) and the axis of the handle (2) is aligned or close to being aligned, the said disk shaped apparatus (1) interfere with the forearm (4) and deforms at area (6).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Background

In racquet sports or any sport using a club or a bat to hit objects, pronation and supination of the forearm is commonly used to help generate more a powerful swing of the racquet, club, or bat. To properly utilize the pronation and supination motion of forearms, a certain angle between the forearm and the axis of the racquet, club, bat handle is preferred. This invention improves the sports player's awareness of the angle between his/her forearm and the handle axis. Another reason to keep a large angle between the forearm and the handle axis is to reduce direct shock generated by the impact of hitting the object, therefore reducing the risk of injury such as tennis elbow or golf olbow.

Objects and Advantages

The principal object of the invention is to provide a training apparatus that can help improve the user's awareness on his/her forearm angle relative to the handle being held. More specifically, when the angle between the forearm and the handle gets too small, the invented disk shaped apparatus will interfere with the forearm or wrist area, and the user's wrist or forearm skin will feel pressure while playing when the interference happens, so the self-correction can happen during the play as well. This interference can also be seen before, during, and after the play.

Compared to an electronic motion recorder, the invented disk shaped apparatus gives real time touching feedback instead of review afterward. The shape and position of the said apparatus also gives visual alert to the user to not get interference.

Compared to body restraining devices, the said apparatus does not attach to user's body, and it does not constrain the user's body motion either; therefore it is more convenient and comfortable to use. 

1. The invented apparatus is useful in any sports that uses a racquet, a bat, a club, a stick, or anything with a handle to hold with the user's hand(s). The said apparatus provides the user with real-time feedback on his/her forearm angle relative to the handle axis. More specifically, when the angle between the forearm and the handle is smaller than the intended value, the invented disk shaped apparatus interferes with the forearm or wrist area, providing the user with touch feeling and visual evidence as well. The improved awareness of the wrist position before, during, and after playing makes the self-correction possible before, during, and after as well.
 2. Unlike a normal end portion of a sports equipment handle, the said apparatus comprises a disk shaped feature with a large profile that cannot be gripped over by a hand. The said profile can be a circular shape or any non-circular shape. It can be axial symmetrical or non-symmetrical as well. The said large profile feature is able to contact the user's forearm and/or wrist area to provide touching pressure when the angle between the forearm and the handle gets smaller than a preset value.
 3. The said apparatus can be made from rigid material or elastic material. The said apparatus can be made as part of the original equipment or as an attachment to the original equipment. The attachment can be permanent or removable. The said apparatus can be comprised with multiple components as well as a single-part apparatus. 